STEPHEN Vaughan has told Chester City's players to secure the club's Football League status before thinking about their own future.
All but five members of the Blues' first-team squad will be out of contract this summer, but Vaughan is refusing to be drawn on who might be offered new deals until he knows what division the club will be in next season.
The Chester chairman said: 'We've got to make sure we're mathematically safe in this division before I start handing contracts out.
'We've got to get over the next couple of weeks and make ourselves safe - then we can start building a squad that will hopefully challenge for promotion next season.'
The only Chester players with contracts that last beyond the summer are forwards Ryan Lowe, Michael Branch and Gregg Blundell, utility man Stephen Vaughan Jnr and keeper Wayne Brown, who is on loan at Hereford.
A mass exodus is likely come June but of more pressing importance is the Blues' battle to stay in League Two, which takes them to Darling-ton tomorrow.
City are just three points clear of the dropzone and have 12 games to pull themselves clear of danger.
After being drafted in to halt the slide, new manager Mark Wright has seen his attempts to shake up his squad hindered by the closure of the transfer window and salary capping regulations for teams in League Two.
The new measures were brought in to stop clubs spending beyond their means but Vaughan said they were 'a shambles', adding: 'It's bad for clubs looking to wheel and deal. When you're down at the bottom and still prepared to spend, it's very hard.'
Loans are still permitted and the Blues are trying to get five out-of-favour players - Luke Dimech, Craig Dove, Abdou El Kholti, Marcus Richardson and Tom Curle - off their books.
Keeper Stephane Gillet had his contract paid up this week but there must be further departures before any incomings can be sanctioned by the Football League.
Signed on a free transfer from FC Racing Union, Luxembourg international Gillet made his Blues debut at Cheltenham Town on January 7 and impressed in his early games.
But the 28-year-old did not sustain his level of performance and on Tuesday was dropped in favour of former Liverpool reserve Paul Harrison, who signed last month following a spell with Wolves.
Wright said: 'Stephane is a lovely fella but I just didn't feel he had that presence and confidence that I wanted from a keeper.
'It was only fair to tell him the situation and give him the option to further his career elsewhere.'
Vaughan, meanwhile, has thanked the 1,806 hardy souls who turned out for Tuesday's hastily rearranged clash with Torquay United at a rain-lashed Saunders Honda Stadium.
Heavy snow meant the fixture had to be postponed on Saturday but officials from both clubs acted quickly to reschedule it.
It was the first time City's home attendance had fallen below the 2,000 mark this season but Vaughan said: 'We've been through a horrendous time recently and I'm grateful to those fans who are sticking with us.'
He added: 'Taking into account the fact that many of those fans are season ticket holders, we were left with only £7,000 in gate receipts on Tuesday.'
